PureInsight | October 18, 2004
[PureInsight.org] Since August 2004, Dafa disciples from countries around the world have come to Manhattan, the center of world finance. They come to tell New Yorkers and tourists from the world about the brutal crackdown on Falun Gong that is going on today in China, and to appeal to people to help stop the persecution. Practitioners are seen everywhere in Manhattan. They distribute leaflets that clarify the facts about Falun Gong and hold exhibition boards depicting the cruelty of the persecution. This series contains an interview with practitioners who have come to Manhattan from all parts of the world to clarify the truth. The interviews capture the personal experiences, understandings and moving stories of those practitioners.
R: Reporter from Zhengjian/Pureinsight
X: A practitioner from France
R:How long have you been here? Could you talk about your experience here?
X:I have been here for two weeks. I am so glad to be here. Not too many practitioners in France are able to come. I will stay for two months. When I distribute material to New Yorkers, I smile at them and they often smile back. I can feel how strong the energy is here. There are some bad things here but there are also good things as well. I flew to a New York airport and then took the train to the place where I am currently staying. Along the way, many Americans offered to help me. When they saw that I was carrying a heavy luggage, many people were very nice and offered to help.
R: What is the biggest problem you've encountered during the last two weeks?
X: When I first got here and tried to go to places to clarify the truth, I often got lost. Now things are better after being here for two weeks. To me, the most important thing is to be able to distribute material about Falun Gong and clarify the truth.
R: When you clarify the truth, what are the most common questions that people have asked you?
X: My English is not that good. But Americans are generally able to understand me. I am sure my English will get better after I'm here longer. Right now when I try to explain the general things in English, people understand me. But when they ask me in-depth questions, I find it difficult to answer them clearly in English. I wish that I could have told them more about the truth. The most common question that people ask me is "What is Falun Gong?" Some of them think that we are trying to recruit more people to practice Falun Gong. A couple of people have said bad things. Some people say hello to me even though they refuse to accept the flyer. I am not too concerned about that. If they don't take flyers from me, they will have other opportunities to receive flyers from other practitioners. I never try to push them to accept my flyers. I just tell people, "Falun Dafa is good! Falun Dafa is being persecuted in China."
R: What made you come here?
X: I had wanted to visit the U.S. for a long time. After I graduated and got a job, I was finally able to save some money. When I heard that the truth-clarification activities in New York are very important and more practitioners are needed here, I decided to come. I wish I could stay a bit longer.
R: How long are you going to stay?
X: I am planning to stay here for two months. I don't have enough money to stay longer. I don't have that much saved since I have not worked for very long. But I will come back in the future.
Translated from: http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2004/9/16/29160.html
